Poinsettia plant named &#39;PER1362&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1362’, characterized by its uniform, upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about November 8 in Southern California; large inflorescences with peach-colored flower bracts with dark pink-colored flecks and spots; and good post-production longevity.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘PER1362’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd., andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PER1362’.

The new Poinsettia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Poinsettia plants having largeinflorescences with attractive flower bracts and excellentpost-production longevity.

The new Poinsettia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in December, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. identified as code number PE2-31, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent, with Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.‘PER2804’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,295, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Poinsettia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inEncinitas, Calif. in December, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Poinsettia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newPoinsettia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Poinsettia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PER1362’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PER1362’ as a new and distinct Poinsettiaplant:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely and upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Under natural season conditions, plants flower on or about        November 8 in Southern California.    -   6. Large inflorescences with peach-colored flower bracts with        dark pink-colored flecks and spots.    -   7. Good post-production longevity.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia have more vigorous than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and the female parent selection        differ in leaf and flower bract aspect plants of the female        parent selection have leaves and flower bracts that are        reflexed.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia flower about twelve days earlier        than plants of the female parent selection when grown under        natural season conditions.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Poinsettia differ primarily from plants of the male parent,‘PER2804’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘PER2804’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia have smaller flower bracts than        plants of ‘PER2804’.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘PER2804’ differ in flower        bract color as plants of ‘PER2804’ have bright red-colored        flower bracts.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘Peterstar Pink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.9,879. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif.,plants of the new Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of‘Peterstar Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia were more vigorous than plants        of ‘Peterstar Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘Peterstar Pink’ differed in        flower bract color as plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’ had        pink-colored flower bracts.    -   4. Plants of the new Poinsettia flowered about 17 days earlier        than plants of ‘Peterstar Pink’.

Plants of the new Poinsettia can be compared to plants of the Euphorbiapulcherrima Willd. ‘PER975’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,882. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of thenew Poinsettia differed primarily from plants of ‘PER975’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Poinsettia had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘PER975’.    -   2. Plants of the new Poinsettia and ‘PER975’ differed in flower        bract color as plants of ‘PER975’ had light pink to pale        yellow-colored flower bracts.    -   3. Plants of the new Poinsettia flowered about 13 days earlier        than plants of ‘PER975’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Poinsettia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Poinsettia plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘PER1362’ grown in acontainer. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘PER1362’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdetailed description were grown during the late autumn/early winter in16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas,Calif. and under natural season conditions and cultural practicestypical of commercial Poinsettia production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 foot-candles.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were pinched one time and were 21 weeks oldwhen the photographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ‘PER1362’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Euphorbia            pulcherrima Willd. identified as code number PE2-31, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.            ‘PER2804’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,295.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About seven to ten days at night            temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About four weeks at            night temperatures about 20° C. and day temperatures about            27° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit and form.—Uniform, upright and mounded plant            habit; inverted triangle; large inflorescences positioned            above the foliar plane; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 58 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity: Freely branching            habit, about seven lateral branches develop after pinching;            upright to somewhat outwardly branching habit. Length: About            34 cm. Diameter: Thick, about 9 mm. Internode length: About            1.8 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Glossy. Color: More green            than 146A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 13.25 cm. Width: About 10.5 cm. Shape: Ovate with            cordate tendencies. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Mostly truncate            with cordate tendencies. Margin: Mostly entire, occasionally            with broad lobes. Aspect: Flat. Venation pattern: Pinnate,            arcuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly rugose. Color: Developing and fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than N137A or            147A; venation, close to 146A. Developing and fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to            146C to 146D. Petioles: Length: About 7.75 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Luster, upper and lower surfaces: Glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to            146B to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Terminal inflorescences are            compound corymbs of cyathia with colored flower bracts            subtending the cyathia; inflorescences uniformly positioned            above the foliar plane.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural season conditions, plants            typically flower on or about November 8 in Southern            California; under artificial long nyctoperiod/short            photoperiod conditions, plants flower about seven to eight            weeks later.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good post-production longevity;            plants of the new Poinsettia maintain good substance and            flower bract color for about four to six weeks under            interior conditions; flower bracts persistent and cyathia            not persistent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 35 cm.        -   Inflorescence height (depth).—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 36. Length,            largest bracts: About 15 cm. Width, largest bracts: About            11.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire, undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny; somewhat rugose. Aspect: Mostly            upright to horizontal. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate.            Color: Developing or transitional bracts, upper surface:            Ground color, close to 147A; irregular and random sectors,            close to 10A and 37B. Developing or transitional bracts,            lower surface: Ground color, close to 144A and 146A;            irregular and random sectors, close to 10B, 10C, 37A and            37B. Fully expanded bracts, upper surface: Close to 38A and            39C; random flecks and spots, close to 53A; some bracts,            close to 38C and 38D with flecks and spots, close to 47A to            47B or 52A; color becoming closer to 22D with late            development. Fully expanded bracts, lower surface: Close to            38B and 38C; flecks and spots, close to 53A and 53B; color            becoming closer to 16B with late development. Bract            petioles: Length: About 4.75 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B to 144C.        -   Cyathia.—Quantity per corymb: About 32. Length: About 8 mm.            Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oval. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, inner surface: Close to 144B. Color, outer surface:            Close to 144A.        -   Nectaries.—Quantity per cyathium: One. Length: About 7 mm.            Width: About 4.5 mm. Shape: Roughly oval. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 17C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per cyathium:            About 20. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close            to 154D. Anther shape: Round; bi-lobed. Anther length: Less            than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 9A. Amount of pollen: None            observed. Pistils: Quantity per cyathium: One; tri-parted.            Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Lanceolate,            recurved. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Style length: About            5 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to            144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Poinsettia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Poinsettia plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Poinsettia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about    29° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘PER1362’ asillustrated and described.